I Always Travel with a Carry-On Bag ONLY (How I Do It)

The Bag Situation

For a week or more, I use a carry-on sized rolling suitcase plus one personal item. You could use a cute tote bag, but I always opt for a backpack so I can be hands-free. I really hate traveling lopsided like this 🙃. An expandable carry-on is perfect for cold weather travel – that extra space comes in handy.

Game changer alert: PACKING CUBES. If you haven’t traveled with these and you’re an organizational freak like me, you’re missing out. Get compressible ones – they save space and make it easy to find exactly what you’re looking for. Plus, they add protection if anything spills in transit. Ask me how I know. 😅

Before You Pack a Single Thing

Think about three things:

1. The weather. Mild? Cold? Windy? Account for it.

2. What you’re doing. Walking around, shopping, sightseeing, museums, hiking? The clothes need to make sense.

3. Do your pieces play well together? The easiest way to overpack is packing individual outfits. Instead, pack pieces that mix and match. One piece should work across casual daytime AND dressed up nighttime.

The 5-4-3-2-1 Method

This method is life-changing for how I always travel with a carry-on bag only:

• 5 tops
• 4 bottoms
• 3 pairs of shoes
• 2 layering pieces
• 1 piece of outerwear
• Plus singles (pajamas, purse, etc.)

This is a guideline – modify as needed. And yes, this means doing some laundry while traveling. That’s the secret.

My Exact Packing List

TOPS (5): One cotton sweater, one slim cashmere sweater, two t-shirts for layering (one oversized, one slim and cropped so you’re not stuck with one vibe), one button-down for smarter looks, and one tank top for showing more skin when you want.

Stick to a color palette that’s easy to style – I go with grays, navy, black, white, and a pop of red so you don’t say I’m boring.

BOTTOMS (4): One pair of dark indigo jeans (dark wash dresses up and down easier than light wash – trust me), one pair of track pants for planes and lounging, one pair of dress-pant-meets-technical-pant hybrids (the Lululemon Daydrift trousers are my secret weapon – they look like dress pants but slip on like sweats and don’t wrinkle), and leggings for chilling.

SHOES (3): Boots that dress up and down, sneakers (Sambas with wool socks work great), and lightweight flats that pack into nothing. Always put shoes in a shoe bag – they’re the dirtiest thing in your luggage.

LAYERING PIECES (2): One oversized cashmere sweater (thin but warm, no bulk), and one black oversized blazer. Blazers are a styling hack – throw one on and you instantly look chic, even over leggings and a t-shirt.

The Outerwear Game-Changer

Nobody wants to pack their big giant down parka. It’s bulky, uncomfortable, and leaves a lot to be desired style-wise.

Here’s what changed everything: Pack a Uniqlo light down vest, then layer your favorite wool overcoat OVER it. I saw people doing this all over the UK, Paris, and Amsterdam. By the time you throw on your scarf, you can’t even tell you’re wearing something technical underneath. Warm AND stylish without the bulk. Cannot recommend this enough.

The Extras

One big scarf (can double as blanket or plane pillow), leather-lined gloves, one beanie, one bathing suit (you never know), one belt, sunglasses, pajamas, one workout set, a daytime bag, undies for each day plus one, and wool socks to keep your feet warm.

Don’t forget thermal under layers! Uniqlo HeatTech is affordable and works so well. You want something thin enough that it doesn’t add bulk while still keeping you warm.

The Sign of a Good Capsule

The key with this travel capsule? OPTIONS. You can throw things together and it just works – airport outfits, daytime exploring, dinner and date night. No pre-planning individual outfits required.

But the ONE key thing you need to master? Layering. Skip that step and be prepared to haul heavy luggage and check multiple bags.

Packing Tetris Tips

Stuff gloves into hats. Put socks inside shoes. Separate clothes from hair tools and makeup so things stay protected. Packing is truly a game of Tetris, but I believe you can do it.

And that’s exactly how I always travel with a carry-on bag only – even in winter. No checked bags, no overpacking, no wearing only half of what you brought. Just smart, stylish, stress-free travel. ✈️